104 



NOTES ON LILIES 



has similar bulbs, but the scales of that plant are pointed, whereas 

 nearly all the smooth white scales of Catesbcei bear a scar at the apex 

 where a leaf has fallen away, nearly all the young scales being termi- 

 nated by slender, sinuate leaves, as shown in our illustration.* 



L. Bulbiferurn. -An extremely variable plant, the bulbs of the 

 different forms varying in size from that of a small Walnut, as in 

 Thunbergianum Alutacewn (a dwarf, apricot-coloured species, which 

 bears its erect flowers 011 stems 2 or 4 inches in height) to large, 

 plump bulbs the size of a la,rge Orange, and having very closely im- 

 bricated scales, as in Thunbergianum Splendens and in Umbellatum 

 Maculatum of gardens. Mr. Baker describes the bulbs as l( ovoid- 

 perennial, scales few, broad, and acute." Our illustrations give some 

 idea of the variability of bulb-growth observable in the varieties or 

 forms of this species. The bulb of Umbellatum Maculatum sent us 

 from Colchester was fully 4 inches in diameter, the numerous fleshy, 

 broadly lance- shaped, purplish scales, being closely appressed so as 

 to give a remarkably solid appearance to the whole bulb. Mr. Baker 

 describes this as a "luxuriant garden form of Davuricum" With 

 it came the smaller bulb of Croceum, with broader and fewer pinky- 

 white scales, and these 

 are more constricted than 

 in Umbellatum. Thunber- 

 gianum Splendens has 

 bulbs similar to those of 

 Umbellatum, but smaller, 

 with purple-tinted, 

 closely-appressed scales, 

 and the bulbs are apt to 

 assume the flat-topped 

 contour so characteristic 

 of Brownii and Longiflo- 

 riLm."\ Da vuricum proper 

 is rather peculiar in its 

 bulb -growth, and we 

 figure two of the most 

 distinct of its forms. 

 One type has ovoid bulbs 

 composed of narrow, 

 lance-shaped, fleshy 

 scales, these last being 

 extremely brittle at the 



L. Daviiriciim (Europe, IX.lmria) ; natural size ; base, ^ indeed, the old 



cultivated bul b ; colour, whitish. flowering bulbs are apt 



to fall to pieces unless handled very gently. This form, as 



* The illustrations of PhiladelpMcum and Catesbcci are both perfectly correct, 

 t Bulbs of all the Umldlatum family are more or less flattened at the top. 



